AN ACT CONCERNING IMPROVED TELECOMMUTING PROGRAMS FOR THE STATE'S WORKFORCE.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. Section 5-248i of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2008):

(a) The Commissioner of Administrative Services [may] shall develop and implement guidelines, in cooperation with interested employee organizations, as defined in subsection (d) of section 5-270, authorizing telecommuting and work-at-home programs for state employees where such arrangements are determined to be: [cost] (1) Cost effective, (2) beneficial to the environment, (3) beneficial to the reduction of traffic congestion on the state's roadways, or (4) beneficial to employee productivity.

(b) Any [employee of a] state agency may [be authorized to] participate in a telecommuting or work-at-home [assignment with the approval of his appointing authority and with the approval of the Commissioner of Administrative Services. Approval of such assignment may be granted only where it is determined to be cost effective] program. Any assignment of an employee of such agency in such program shall be on a temporary basis only. [, for a period not to exceed six months and may be extended as necessary.]

(c) Not later than January 1, 2009, and within available appropriations, the Commissioner of Administrative Services shall establish a pilot program for telecommuting or work-at-home assignments for employees of the Departments of Environmental Protection, Developmental Services and Information Technology.

[(c)] (d) The Commissioner of Administrative Services shall report annually to the joint standing [committee] committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to labor and public employees and government administration as to the extent of use by employees as provided pursuant to subsections (a), [and] (b) and (c) of this section.

Statement of Purpose:

To strengthen and improve telecommuting options for state employees.

[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]